Romans 12:1-2
“Not my will, but yours, God.” We say that often in our prayers, but when really pressed, do we really mean it? Now, I’m not trying to sound cynical, just real. We (well, I do anyway) often ask God for His will to be done when really, I’m asking God to affirm my will. A couple of problems with that approach. The first is obvious. We don’t set terms for God. Secondly, God in His perfection already knows what is best for us. Paul, when writing to the Romans, reminded his readers of the approach we are to take with God. First, we are a living sacrifice. Meaning our sacrifice is not a “one and done.” The blood sacrifice is no longer required. Christ’s death and resurrection concluded that. But as a living sacrifice, it is a daily process. Heart, body, mind, and soul given to God. It is our “true and proper worship.” But Paul doesn’t stop there. In verse 2, he warns his readers (of which we are included) that we must not allow ourselves to be conformed to this world, but rather continually renew our minds. The world has plenty it would like us as Christians to conform to, but it is critical, as part of our worship, to renew our minds. This is important because in order to know God’s perfect will, we must have a mindset that is focused on heavenly, not worldly. When Paul writes about “testing God’s will,” it does not mean to try God as a way to prove Himself. Rather, it is to be able to discern His will because our minds are focused on Him, and making His perspective ours. His good, pleasing, and perfect will. Do we know what next week or even the next hour holds? Nope! But when we consider that God always has intended for us what is best for us, it makes understanding the present and future a lot more comforting.
“Not my will, but yours, God.” We say that often in our prayers, but when really pressed, do we really mean it? Now, I’m not trying to sound cynical, just real. We (well, I do anyway) often ask God for His will to be done when really, I’m asking God to affirm my will. A couple of problems with that approach. The first is obvious. We don’t set terms for God. Secondly, God in His perfection already knows what is best for us. Paul, when writing to the Romans, reminded his readers of the approach we are to take with God. First, we are a living sacrifice. Meaning our sacrifice is not a “one and done.” The blood sacrifice is no longer required. Christ’s death and resurrection concluded that. But as a living sacrifice, it is a daily process. Heart, body, mind, and soul given to God. It is our “true and proper worship.” But Paul doesn’t stop there. In verse 2, he warns his readers (of which we are included) that we must not allow ourselves to be conformed to this world, but rather continually renew our minds. The world has plenty it would like us as Christians to conform to, but it is critical, as part of our worship, to renew our minds. This is important because in order to know God’s perfect will, we must have a mindset that is focused on heavenly, not worldly. When Paul writes about “testing God’s will,” it does not mean to try God as a way to prove Himself. Rather, it is to be able to discern His will because our minds are focused on Him, and making His perspective ours. His good, pleasing, and perfect will. Do we know what next week or even the next hour holds? Nope! But when we consider that God always has intended for us what is best for us, it makes understanding the present and future a lot more comforting.
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